Backgammon – Three General Techniques

In exceptionally simple terms, there are 3 chief game plans employed. You must be agile enough to switch strategies almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you might manage, to lock in the competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable course of action at the start of the match. You can build the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This consists of closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your challenger rolls an early 2 and moves one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is then in big-time trouble because they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or higher anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a position filled by at least two of your pieces.) It needs to be employed when you are extremely behind as this plan much improves your opportunities. The better locations for anchor spots are close to your opponent’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is crucial for a powerful backgame: besides, there is no point having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your opponent is moving their checkers home, owing to the fact that you do not have any other additional checkers to move! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up until your opponent gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this case!

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